Arizona's sagebrush rebellion: Politics and land management.

Abstract

The "Sagebrush Rebellion" is a loose-knit political movement in the western states that demands state ownership and control over millions of acres of land that has always been owned and more or less controlled by the Federal government. Arizona's legislature in 1980 followed the lead of several other states by passing a law claiming these federal lands. Three causes of or justifications for this Rebellion are examined. The legal justification for the Rebellion is found to be poor indeed; the legal arguments are used as a device to garner support by those who support the Rebellion either because of their political philosophy or because of the way they want the land managed. The differences in political philosophy and land use goals between the pro- and anti-Rebellion forces are examined and found to be fundamental. As a case in point the operations of the Arizona State Land Department and the BLM in Arizona are compared. The nature of "multiple use management" is discussed and its role in the economic and political struggles over public resources is indicated. It is suggested that little land will actually be given to the states. The Sagebrush Rebellion is in fact just another device that certain users of public lands and certain political forces employ to influence federal decision making.